Guitar hero

Maggie started guitar lessons this fall and is loving it.  We didn't escape suzuki completely as that is the teaching method her guitar teacher uses, but since Maggie already knows the songs on violin, she's just blowing through them on guitar.  She has her first recital on Sunday.  Also, we just got Sally's piano yesterday (I'll post pictures later) and now we just need to find her a teacher.  She told me she prefers a girl with long hair.  Can you imagine me calling around, "Um, there's just one other question I have ... no it's not about your fees ... no it's not about your experience ...it's about your hair."  Hee hee.

Yes we can and Yes they did!

Tony took Maggie and Sally to Cleveland to volunteer for Obama. They went the Sunday before election day and stayed until Wednesday. They were there, in the battleground state of Ohio, to see history being made. Sally spent the time with her grandparents and cousins, but Maggie and Tony spent most of their time going door to door, leafletting houses and making sure people got out to vote. Maggie was a trooper and I'm so proud of her hard work. Here's a picture of them at the rally downtown where Springstein played and Obama spoke. It started to rain and my California girls were woefully unprepared for weather, but the rain didn't dampen their spirits or enthusiasm.

A year ago ...

A year ago we went on strike.  It was a weird, uncertain time.  We were told to vacate our offices and we didn't know when we'd be back.  It turned out to be about 3-4 months.  It was also a strange time for us because Tony had just had his heart surgery on October 8 and was still recuperating.  The strike actually helped him - we had to picket for 3 hours a day so Tony used his picketing as physical therapy, he'd walk in circles, holding his sign, making his heart stronger.  

Funny Faces

Funny faces are big with us.  About a year ago Maggie took a picture of herself making this funny face.  She sent it to a bunch of people, including my dad, who then sent back his own funny face. Sally is lately into making funny faces when she gets her picture taken.  Tony and I ... well are faces are always funny.

The first time I saw your face ...

Daddy and I got a call from US Asian Affairs that we had been matched with a baby - you!  They told me your name, Fu Xinpei and that you were from Chongching. The next day, Daddy and I drove to Monterey Park and picked up the manilla envelope that had 3 pictures of you inside.  We were so nervous and excited to open the envelope.  These were two of the pictures.  We were so happy and couldn't stop staring at you.  You looked so healthy and so, so beautiful.  I especially like the picture with the red background and your sweet little mouth.  We started to love you that day and haven't stopped.  AsI tell you all the time, the day we met you and the day we had Maggie were the two most amazing days of my life.  

Hawaii on my mind

It's getting cold here and that always makes me a little bit happy and a little bit sad.  I like that it reminds me of the midwest in the fall, but I miss my hot and sunny days.  So, I started thinking about Hawaii.  We're going back there for a vacation in May, to Maui.  We took a vacation there a year and a half ago and had the best time.  We stayed at the Kea Lani and the girls alternated between the pool and the beach.  Maggie went snorkeling with Tony and Madeline Falacci(who also happened to be there with her parents on vacation), Sally fed the Koi in the Koi pond every morning. 

The Pumpkin Patch

Yesterday we went to a pumpkin patch.  Besides buying pumpkins, we rode a train and Tony and Maggie went in the corn maze where they managed to get lost.  After about an hour they found a group who seemed to know where they were and made it out.  We had lemonade and roasted corn while they recovered from their adventure.  While they were busy getting lost, Sally and I did the kiddie maze, climbed the giant stack of hay bales and jumped in a huge pumpkin bouncer.